Freedom From A Self-Centered Life

FREEDOM FROM A SELF-CENTERED LIFE
Dying to Self
Selections From
The Writings Of William Law
EDITED BY ANDREW MURRAY


William Law lived from 1686-1761. When we are fortunate enough to be able to go back in time and gain a fresh perspective on the Gospel message, it can be a real eye-opener. We begin to see not only how far we have fallen, but how we can change direction and actually become the ‘living epistles’ we are called to be in these last days. Initially I linked to an easy to read PDF file of the titled book, Freedom From A Self-Centered Life. Below is a brief description of what it contains:

“In the first, he points out to his friends the immense difference between intellectual and spiritual apprehension, between the delightful impression that can be made by an insight into a truth and its actual possession.

Anyone in a hurry to come to Law’s teaching about dying to self might pass over this portion and think that he missed nothing of the real argument. That would be perfectly true. And yet he might miss what is of far more importance than the argument—the right spirit in which to
approach, and in which alone to profit by it, so as to obtain an entrance into the blessed life he speaks of. Because the dying to self and the living to God is the exchange of one life for another, the losing the one to gain the other, he makes plain in the second part how the difference between light and darkness is the image of the intense, irreconcilable, and eternal difference between the life of God and the life of self.

It is only when this is fully believed that there can be even the beginning of the capacity to understand what dying to self is. After having thus prepared his reader, the third part unfolds the simple but wonderful secret of dying to self as the one infallible way to what constitutes true salvation— the life of God restored in man. The fourth part treats of the actual enjoyment of this blessing.”

One doesn’t have to read far to recognize that this is not going to appeal to everyone. If however, you want to learn more, here are some additional links to some of William Law’s other writings:

An introduction to William Law

The Works of William Law (on-line)

The Christians Hope

The Christian's Hope: Growing Up Into Christ Jesus

From The Feast of Tabernacles

by George Warnock

1 Jn. 3:9. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

There is no argument against the direct, plain, indisputable truths here presented. The righteousness which God has in store for us is not merely a partial appropriation of God's righteousness, or a certain degree of attainment whereby we measure ourselves with others, and we conclude we are victorious because we have ceased from our bad habits, conquered over anger, and no longer harbor ill-feelings against another. As likely as not, such claims of holiness are a sure sign of pride rather than of meekness and contrition of spirit. This life of which we speak is a life far beyond anything the Church has yet seen in her most glorious saints. It is God's very own: "even as he is pure," "even as he is righteous," "he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

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Sowing Discord

Sowing Discord

Today, many are stunned as they watch world events unfolding. Conflict, chaos and fear are all around us, even as the media try to assure us that 'all is well, and things will get better.' The religious mindset is in as much or more confusion and disarray as that of the world. We are seeing all the signs Jesus told us to look for in Matthew 24... being played out across our television screens and in our neighborhoods. How many of us have 'eyes to see and ears to hear' today... and how many of us are complacent and lukewarm? Jesus gives us a warning in Matthew 23:13 "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in."

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No More Peace

" For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will [be] the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey the good news (the Gospel) of God? And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the godless and wicked? Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with God's will must do right and commit their souls [in charge as a deposit] to the One Who created [them] and will never fail [them]" 1 Peter 4:17-19 .

No More Peace - Joseph Herrin

Two days ago the news reported on a story of a pastor being shot and killed in front of a horrified congregation at the Maryville First Baptist Church in Illinois. As I have meditated upon this event I have perceived a very hard message from the Lord. Despite the multitude of objections that always arise from people who have lost their fear of God, having been lulled into a stupor by the constant barrage of words flowing from the mouths of prophets and preachers who present an image of a “mush God” who is all love and mercy and tolerance, I am compelled to share the following word.

An Urgent Message - David Wilkerson - March 8, 2009

An Urgent Message

Saturday, March 7, 2009 3:37 a.m.

- by David Wilkerson -

Times Square Church in New York...

I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to all on our mailing list, and to friends and to bishops we have met all over the world.


AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. ITIS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.

For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires - such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.

There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting -- including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God's wrath. In Psalm 11:3 it is written,

"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations.

He is destroying the secular foundations.

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